The DJBRP Jan 6th

The reading for Jan 6th was Matthew 3:13-17, Acts 4:1-22, Psalm 6, and Genesis 15-17.

The passage from Matthew covers the baptism of Jesus. In this passage we see God's affirmation on Jesus as His beloved son (v17). God Himself declared Jesus to be deity so who is anyone else to say he is not? I do think it is interesting to note that Jesus' baptism is recorded but we never see where any of his disciples are baptised...

The passage from Acts covers Peter and John being called before the council. The thing that sticks out to me in this passage is Peter and John's boldness to proclaim the gospel no matter what. Verses 19 and 20 say, "But Peter and John answered them, 'Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard'." It didn't matter what anyone else thought or said, they were going to preach the gospel. Read the prayer in verses 24-30. May we pray for the same boldness to empower us to preach the gospel without fear.

Psalm 6 is a desperate prayer. David seems to be in absolute agony over something. He is crying out to God with everything in him to be delivered and he appeals to God's love for him, "Turn, O Lord, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love." This is the cornerstone of David's life. If he can't appeal to God's love for him, then he is as good as dead.

Genesis 15-17 covers God's covenant with Abraham, the birth of Ishmael, and the promise of Isaac. Why is verse 11 recorded? It says, "And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away." Is there something in this that we need to learn from? In this whole passage the promise of Isaac is the only one that is said to be everlasting. Every other covenant is temporal, but the promise to the child of promise is forever.